Mechanical amusement apparatus.



W. HARLIN G. MECHANICAL AMUSEMENT APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JULY 6, 1911. 191331 5 Patented Feb. 20, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

awbem coz 17%! 77%; q/vi Vneowo .uu Mum PLANOGRAPII CO., WASHINGTON, u, c.

1 W. HARLING. MEGHANIGAL AMUSEMENT APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 6, 1911.

1,018,315. Patented Feb. 20, 1912.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

' g7m m COLUMBIA PLAN'DGRAPH C0-- WASHINGTON, n.

W. HARLING.

MECHANICAL AMUSEMENT APPARATUS.

' APPLICATION FILED JULY 6, 1911.

1,018,315 Patented Feb. 20, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3-,

UNITED STATES PATENT oriuon.

WALTER HARLING, OF BRYN MAWR, WASHINGTON.

MECHANICAL AMUSEMENT APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VVALTER HARLING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bryn Mawr, in the county of King and State of lVashington, have invented new and useful Improvements in lVIechanicalAmusement Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mechanical amusement apparatus, the object of the invention being to provide in connection with a circular track such as that disclosed in my Patent #943,539, of December 14, 1909, a series of concentric cars and means for independently operating the cars to cause them to travel at different rates of speed if desired, so as to present a racing effect to furnish considerable amusement and excite ment for the occupants of the cars.

In the drawings, forming a portion of this specification and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views: Figure 1 is a plan View of the complete apparatus. Fig. 2 is a section therethrough taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section through a port-ion of the apparatus showing the driven actuating member for the car, the supporting wheels of the member being shown in section. Fig. 4 is a side view of the driving mechanism. Fig. 5 is a sectional perspective View of the apparatus showing the cable tensioning means.

The apparatus preferably comprises a circular track 1 which includes the inner and outer concentric sections 2 and 3 and the intermediate concentric sections 4 and 5. These sections. are spaced parallel from a supporting base 6 and connected therewith by the concentric supporting blocks or members 7. The inner section 2 of the track surrounds a dancing floor surface 8 onto which the ones having paid their admissions to ride in the cars may dance, the said surface serving desirably as an attracting means to direct persons to the apparatus.

The supporting members or blocks 7 are arranged in spaced pairs and secured thereon by the attaching members 8 are horizontally disposed rails 9 and 10. These rails are arranged in difierent planes with respect to each other and adapted to travel thereon are the superimposed wheels 11 and 12 each having a peripheral groove 13 to receive the ball of the rail, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. These superimposed wheels are mounted on the vertical posts 14 and Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 6, 1911.

Patented Feb. 20, 1912. Serial No. 637,080.

confined between the spaced retaining nuts or washers 15. The sections 2, 3, 4 and 5 are spaced from each other to form the intervening concentric slots 16, and as shown, the post-s 14 extend upwardly through the slots for-attaclnnent to the cars 17. These cars are preferably arranged in groups around the track 1, each group comprising three cars which are arranged side by side and correspondingly connected with the posts 14 which are operatively supported by the concentric pairs of parallel rails 9 and 10. The

cars are preferably connected with the posts 14 by means of the steering straps 18 which are connected with the front axles of the cars 17 so that the necessary angle to the steering wheels may be obtained to cause the cars to travel in concentric paths.

Concentric shoes 19 are disposed beneath the track, the outer shoes being connected to the posts 14 which extend upwardly through the outer slot 16 in the track 1, the inner shoes 19 being connected in a similar manner to the posts 14 which extend upwardly through the inner slot 16 of the track 1 as will be understood. Each shoe is of angle form preferably, the vertical flange 20 thereof being secured to the posts 14 by means of the clamping bolts 21. Operating cables 22 extend around the shoes and over the pulleys 23 on the driven shaft 24 of the driving apparatus 25. This driving apparatus preferably includes a suitable driving motor 26 which is connected with the pulley 27 of the driving shaft 24 by means of the belt 28. As stated, the driving cable 22 extends over the pulleys 23, and as shown, each is connected with a pulley 29 which is mounted on an adjustable lever 30, the lever being pivoted, at 31, to the base member 32 of the driving apparatus and being provided with a dog 33 which is clesigned to engage the rack bar 34 to hold the lever in its adjusted position. In view of the fact that the controlling cables are individually connected to the levers 30 as described, it will be understood that any required tension on the cables can be obtained so that the cars may be made to travel at different rates of speed.

I claim:

1. Mechanical amusement apparatus comprising a track, a car mounted to travel thereon, and means for regulating the speed of the car, the said means including a driving cable, and companion members over which the cable is passed, the said members being movable relatively between the leads of the cable and adapted to tension the cable to vary the speed of the car when the same is traveling upon the track.

2. Mechanical amusement apparatus comprising a track, a car mounted to travel on the track, a driven shaft, a driven pulley on the shaft, a second pulley on the shaft, a third pulley, a movable support for the third pulley, and a driving belt passing over the second and third pulleys respectively and operatively connected with the car to drive the same.

3. Mechanical amusement apparatus comprising a car, a surface on which the car is adapted to travel, a horizontally disposed track beneath the surface, a support carried by the car and extending through the surface, a grooved horizontally disposed wheel adapted to travel on the track and revolubly mounted on said support, means on the support, the said means holding the wheel operatively associated with the support and driven means engaging the first means and operating to drive the car.

4. Mechanical amusement apparatus comprising a member, a car adapted to travel on the member, concentric superimposed tracks disposed horizontally beneath the member, grooved superimposed horizontally disposed wheels revolubly supported by the car and adapted to travel on the tracks, and means for driving the car.

5. Mechanical amusement apparatus comprising a member, a car adapted to travel on the member, a post depending from the car, horizontal superimposed tracks be- 'neath the member, superimposed members on the post adapted to travel on the tracks, a member on the post, the said member holding the said track traveling means in position on the post, and means for driving the second member to cause the car to travel on the first member.

6. Mechanical amusement apparatus comprising a member, a car adapted to travel on the member, a driven shaft, a driving pulley on said shaft, a second pulley on the shaft, a movable lever, means for holding the lever against movement, a pulley supported by the lever, and a driving belt operatively connected with the second and third named pulleys and with the car and operating to drive the latter.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

W'ALTER HARLING.

\Vitnesses GEORGE DORFLINGER, R. J. MnTcALrn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

